Ten cases of instant noodles, ten cases of ham sausages, two cases of braised eggs, two cases of chicken legs, two cases of beef jerky, fifty cases of water, twenty cases of compressed biscuits, various medicines, a large amount of warm clothing, and a pile of miscellaneous survival tools.
All the suppliers agreed to her delivery requests, scheduled between 4:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon.
Su Wan herself returned to the unfinished building first, carrying a small amount of medicine, a few sets of underwear and socks, and some high-energy snacks.
At 4:30 PM, a small truck delivered all the goods.
The delivery workers stacked the goods on a relatively dry and level patch of concrete on the construction site as Su Wan requested.
After the truck left, Su Wan warily scanned the surroundings to ensure no one was watching.
Then, she walked up to the pile of supplies and focused her mind.
In her mind, the 10-cubic-meter Portable Storage Space clearly emerged.
She concentrated, using her intent to “lock onto” a case of instant noodles in front of her.
Silently, the case of instant noodles vanished from the spot.
It worked!
Su Wan’s spirits lifted as she picked up the pace.
Cases of instant noodles, ham sausages, compressed biscuits, clothing, miscellaneous medicines, tools...
Like a magic trick, the mountain of supplies dwindled at a visible rate, orderly “stuffed” into that miraculous 10-cubic-meter space.
The space seemed to have its own rules; items automatically organized and stacked upon entry, maximizing every inch of volume.
In less than two minutes, Su Wan had stored all the goods.
Her 10-cubic-meter space was now packed to the brim, effectively a miniature doomsday survival cache.
Su Wan sat at the small table in Room 102, a steaming plate of char siu rice, a dish of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and even a small bowl of milky-white fish soup set before her.
She had bought this from a well-regarded fast-food joint in the urban village. Though not expensive, it was the most comforting meal she’d had in three months.
After the meal, she carefully tidied the dishes, folded the newly purchased sets of comfortable, durable sportswear and underwear, and put them in the cabinet.
Su Wan lay on the bed fully clothed, eyes closed to rest, but her consciousness was linked to the system panel in her mind, repeatedly familiarizing herself with various functions and the newly unlocked 【Basic Supply Exchange List】.
Time ticked away as she waited.
【Time until automatic travel: 00:00:10】
The moment the countdown hit zero, the familiar slight vibration and sense of spatial displacement returned.
After a brief moment of dizziness, Su Wan opened her eyes.
She was back—back in this peril-filled apocalyptic world.
Almost the instant her feet touched the ground, a rapid, dragging friction sound came from the hallway outside, followed by the “click” of a metal doorknob being forcefully twisted!
Someone was trying to go out!
It was Ah-Hao!
Su Wan’s gaze sharpened as she quickly stood up and pulled open her door.
She saw that the heavy fire door at the end of the hallway had been cracked open, and a cold wind carrying an ominous aura swirled in.
A thin, small figure was struggling to support himself with his arms, dragging his clearly useless injured leg as he tried to crawl out the door.
“Where are you going?” Su Wan’s voice echoed in the empty corridor—calm, yet possessing an undeniable authority.
Ah-Hao, who was halfway out the door, flinched violently and turned back in panic.
Seeing it was Su Wan, the color drained from his face, his eyes a mix of terror and desperation.
“Landlady!” Ah-Hao’s voice was sharp and raspy with urgency. He pointed at the eerie dark-red sky outside, his words tumbling out like a torrent.
“The Death Tide! The Death Tide is coming! The red sky is the omen! In... in two hours at most, the grey mist will swallow this place!”
He stared fixedly at Su Wan, his eyes full of pleading.
“My sister doesn't know I'm here! She'll definitely go to our prearranged meeting spot to find me!”
“If she can't find me, she won't look for a place to hide! She'll definitely come out looking for me! When the Death Tide comes, she... she’ll die!”
Ah-Hao’s tears mingled with the grime on his face as they rolled down. He wiped them away messily with the back of his hand, struggling to continue crawling outward.
“Please, let me go find my sister! I’ll definitely bring her back! We can pay more rent! My sister is very capable; she can find more Crystal Cores! Please!”
Su Wan’s gaze shifted past Ah-Hao toward the outside.
The dark-red sky hung low, looking as though it were soaked in blood, its oppressiveness suffocating.
The sweet, cloying scent of rust in the air seemed to have thickened.
On the system panel, Ah-Hao’s 【Malice Level】 had dropped below 10. The emotions churning within him now were nothing but pure terror and desperation for his sister's safety.
He wasn't lying.
And the system itself reacted at that moment:
【Environmental upheaval detected: High-concentration corrosive energy particles are accumulating in the atmosphere. The “Death Tide” phenomenon is about to erupt.】
【Warning: The “Death Tide” is highly corrosive to most substances and life forms on this plane.】
【Notice: The bound building “Terminal Station” is protected by Absolute Access Authority and the Safety Zone, and can completely block the “Death Tide’s” corrosion.】
【Ding!】
【New Temporary Mission: Shelter’s Disaster Resistance Proof】
【Content: Ensure at least four non-host units survive within the bound building during the first “Death Tide” eruption.】
【Reward: Points +200; Unlock “Environment Filtration System (Basic)” blueprint; Small increase in Reputation.】
【Failure Penalty: Deduction of 100 Points.】
A temporary mission with rewards and reputation, but also a penalty.
Su Wan’s eyes lit up when she heard the system prompt.
The Death Tide was a disaster, but it was also an opportunity.
If the news that this building could completely withstand the Death Tide got out, it would be her most powerful advertisement for attracting tenants and building credibility.
“Your leg is so badly injured; how far can you crawl? You’ll likely die on the road or be targeted by something else before you even find your sister,” Su Wan said. Her tone remained level, yet she began walking toward the fire door.
Ah-Hao froze, the hope that had just flared in his eyes turning into confusion.
Su Wan reached the door and first pulled the fire door wide open, letting the icy air rush in.
She looked out; there were no Rot-Walkers or other suspicious movements nearby for the time being.
Under the dark-red light of the sky, the ruins looked even more sinister.
Then, she looked down at Ah-Hao, who was slumped by the door, looking up at her.
“I can let you go find her,” Su Wan said. “But on two conditions.”
“Name them! I’ll agree to anything!” Ah-Hao said impatiently.
“First, the time.” Su Wan lifted her wrist. Although she didn't have a watch, the system displayed the time.
“One hour. Whether you find her or not, you must be back at this door within one hour. If you're late, I will lock the door.”
“I will not open the door for anyone during the Death Tide.”
One hour was the relatively safe window Su Wan had estimated, and it also put enough pressure on Ah-Hao.
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